Knowledge Rocks! – Summary of a youth study by VA

The study’s overall purpose is to learn more about the way in which young people view science and knowledge, and how their attitudes and opinions evolve.

The study consists of several parts:

• Analysis of data collected from VA’s annual attitude surveys conducted between 2002 and 2007, telephone interviews and postal questionnaires. The VA Report 2007:4 Ungdomars syn på Vetenskap (Young people’s view of science).
• In depth interviews with children aged 10–12 and teenagers aged 16–17 on how they view knowledge, research, science and researchers to gain an understanding of how they think, what affects them and how their attitudes are evolving. VA Report 2007:5 Unga om kunskap (Young people on knowledge).
• Pilot study of the image of researchers presented in the media through analysis of a selection of comics and TV programmes read and watched by children and young people. VA Report 2007:6 Galna, virriga och ondsinta? (Crazy, confused and malicious?)
• Analysis of evaluations of activities aimed at stimulating interest among children and young people in science and technology, with a focus on what is being evaluated and which factors reportedly lead to positive results. VA Report 2007:7 Projekt utan effekt? (Projects without effect?)
• A broad overview of Swedish and international literature on young people’s values and attitudes towards science, researchers and education has been integrated into the study and is referred to in the reports.

The study was financed by the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation. The media image study was made possible by a contribution from the Helge Ax:son Johnson Foundation.